Vera C. Edwards Center

Born in 1909, Dr. Vera Clement Edwards grew up in Texas where her local school administrators did not support integrated colleges. After she earned her Bachelor’s degree from the segregated Prairie View College, in Prairie View Texas, she came to the University of Cincinnati in 1930. She earned her Doctorate in educational psychology here in 1954. After working as a Cincinnati Public School counselor, Dr. Edwards joined the faculty of UC’s College of Education and dedicated her career to creating educational opportunities for minority students. In the 1960s, Dr. Edwards started the college’s Jamboree, a group devoted to increasing college access for minorities. The Jamboree was a discussion group where high school students could talk to college students. In 1998, the Vera Clement Edwards Center was built at the southeast corner of the campus to honor Dr. Edwards. The building was designed by DAAP graduate, David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and kicked off the university’s new campus master plan.

​​​​​​